with love from deutschland

my cigarette hits the ground maybe creating a small earthquake for the masses of ants beneath and probably burning them alive. with clear blue skies and the sun mirroring this heat, we also burn and a dry, warm breeze blows my sweaty hair out of my face. only the smell of stale cigarettes and sweat fill my nostrils. roaming, i am surrounded by immaculate women; whilst i could feel uncommon in my pink shorts and black vest tucked into my bra, allowing more inches to breathe, i don't. i nibble rice cakes and sigh towards one of the many fountains in front of me, imagining myself under ice cold water. admirable old buildings dot the skyline; poking their noses over the trees, they watch over us. i am surrounded by spoken words i cannot yet translate but feel more comfortable than ever. men and women join me here on their lunch break from a day at work and all i can picture when i look at them is their sweaty, chafing bodies underneath their designer suits. i probably won't see a single person i recognise. the birds are singing their own soundtrack of the day, creating a comfort blanket of tranquility. i think of my family and the friends back home of whom some now do not speak to me, and wonder how today is going for them. i think of the new friends i have met here and how excited i am to see them next. with all cultures combined but mine, i am alone and content. the lushous green bushes cocoon me inside my imagination; i can see, hear and touch reality but i do not sit inside it. resting my feet finally but i am never fully resting really; maybe that is why i am so happy. yes, i would call this happiness and the only word i can say is "finally".